Waikato have named an unchanged 22 for Friday night's NPC match against Canterbury in Hamilton.

The players - among them eight debutants - have been rewarded after a splendid 37-25 opening-round bonus-point win over Wellington in the capital, with Anton Lienert-Brown taking his place at second five-eighth, having overcome a sprained ankle sustained early in the second half of that game.

While coach Johnny Walters was delighted with the first-up performance of his troops, he has acknowledged the importance of them looking ahead.

''It was great to get a win on the board first up but we have been quick to put that behind us and shift our focus to this Friday,'' he said.

''We are committed to improving on our last performance and excited to play in front of our home crowd for the first time this year.'' Waikato will have to be firing again, as Canterbury come to Waikato Stadium on the back of a 48-9 thrashing of Auckland in Christchurch.

Friday's game kicks off at 6.05pm, with the 13th grade final the curtain raiser at 3.30pm, followed by a junior rugby march past from 4.30pm.